A monthly industry consolidation breakdown.

Service Experts Purchase Set

Lennox International Inc. announced the early termination of the 30-day waiting period in accordance with one of the conditions for the purchase of Service Experts Inc. Shareholder meetings for both companies has been set to approve the transaction.

Weil-McLain Acquires Williamson-Thermoflo

Weil-McLain has entered into an agreement to purchase the brand names of Williamson-Thermoflo and all its assets and product designs. The new Williamson-Thermoflo Co. will operate as an independent business of Weil-McLain.

In other Weil-McLain news, the company also received the 1999 State of Indiana Quality Improvement Award for achievements in product and service quality.

PSEG Buys Mechanical Contractor

PSEG Energy Technologies announced the acquisition of the Thomas H. Barham Co., a mechanical contractor based in Tinton Falls, N.J. This is the fourth New Jersey-based mechanical contracting company acquired by PSEG and the seventh overall. Barham Co. has annual sales of $40 million and specializes in pharmaceutical, education, medical and correctional facility mechanical construction.

ServiceMaster Dividend Increases

ServiceMaster Co. announced a first quarter cash dividend of $0.09 per share. The company also announced its 2000 Cash Dividend Policy, which provides for total annual dividends of $0.38 per share, a 56 percent increase over 1999.

Blackacre To Invest In DualStar

DualStar Technologies Corp. has entered into a letter of intent with Blackacre Capital Management, under which Blackacre would invest $46.2 million in the company. The agreement could be approved by either a $30 million 10-year convertible promissory note with interest at a rate of 3 percent per annum, or a purchase of 11.5 million shares of DualStar stock at $4 per share.

Buderus Announces Share Buyback

Germany-based Buderus Group announced it would buy back up to 5 percent of its own shares for a maximum share buyback of 10 percent of outstanding capital.